UJobe 31

1 Ngenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami; pho ngingananzelela njani intombi?

I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

2 Ngoba siyini isabelo sikaNkulunkulu esivela phezulu, lelifa likaSomandla elivela endaweni eziphezulu?

For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?

3 Incithakalo kayisiyomubi yini, lengozi yabenzi bobubi?

Is not destruction for the wicked, And ruin for the workers of iniquity?

4 Yena kaziboni yini indlela zami, abale zonke izinyathelo zami?

Doth He not see my ways, And number all my steps?

5 Uba ngihambe ngokuyize, kumbe unyawo lwami luphuthumele enkohlisweni,

If I have walked with falsehood, And if my foot hath hasted to deceit,

6 kangilinganise ngesilinganiso esilungileyo, ukuze uNkulunkulu azi ubuqotho bami.

Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know my integrity!

7 Uba inyathelo lami liphambukile endleleni, lenhliziyo yami yalandela amehlo ami, kumbe kunamathele isici ezandleni zami;

If my steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

8 kangihlanyele, kodwa kudle omunye, lezilimo zami zisitshulwe.

Then I may sow, and another eat; And what I plant, may it be rooted up!

9 Uba inhliziyo yami iyengwe ngowesifazana, kumbe ngacathama emnyango kamakhelwane wami,

If my heart hath been enticed by a woman, Or if I have watched at my neighbor's door,

10 umkami kacholele omunye, labanye kabaguqe phezu kwakhe.

Then let my wife grind for another, And let other men lie with her!

11 Ngoba lokho kuyinkohlakalo, njalo kuyisono ngabahluleli.

For this were a heinous crime, Even a transgression to be punished by the judges;

12 Ngoba ngumlilo odla kuze kube yincithakalo, usiphule sonke isivuno sami.

Yea, it were a fire that would consume to destruction, And root out all my increase.

13 Uba ngalile udaba lwenceku yami loba olwencekukazi yami, lapho ziphikisana lami,

If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant, When they had a controversy with me,

14 pho ngizakwenzani lapho uNkulunkulu esukuma? Lalapho esethekela, ngizaphendulani kuye?

Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

15 Lowo owangenza esiswini kamenzanga yena yini, lowasibumba esiswini munye?

Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 Uba ngigodlele umyanga isifiso, kumbe ngifiphaze amehlo omfelokazi,

If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

17 kumbe ngadla ucezu lwami ngedwa, ukuze intandane ingadli kulo

If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

18 (ngoba kwasebutsheni bami yakhula lami nginjengoyise, ngamqondisa kusukela esizalweni sikamama),

(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb; )

19 uba ngabona obhubha ngenxa yokuswela isigqoko, loba umyanga engelasembatho,

If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

20 uba inkalo zakhe zingangibusisanga, ngoba ekhudunyezwe yiboya bezimvu zami,

If his loins have not blessed me, And he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 uba ngaphakamisa isandla sami ngimelene lentandane, lapho ngabona usizo lwami esangweni,

If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

22 kaliwe ihlombe lami esiphangeni sami, lengalo yami iqamuke ethanjeni layo.

Then may my shoulder fill from its blade, And my fore-arm be broken from its bone!

23 Ngoba incithakalo kaNkulunkulu yayiyisesabiso kimi, ngingenelisi ngenxa yobukhulu bakhe.

For destruction from God was a terror to me, And before his majesty I could do nothing.

24 Uba ngenzile igolide laba lithemba lami, ngathi kugolide elihle: Themba lami.

If I have made gold my trust, Or said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

25 Uba ngithokozile ngoba inotho yami inengi, langoba isandla sami sithole okunengi;

If I have rejoiced, because my wealth was great, And my hand had found abundance;

26 uba ngikhangele ilanga lapho libenyezela, loba inyanga ehamba enkazimulweni,

If I have beheld the sun in his splendor, Or the moon advancing in brightness,

27 lenhliziyo yami yayengwa ensitha, kumbe isandla sami sange umlomo wami,

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand,

28 lalokho yisiphambeko phambi kwabehluleli, ngoba ngabe ngimphikile uNkulunkulu waphezulu.

This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

29 Uba ngithokozile ngokuchitheka kongizondayo, kumbe ngajabula lapho ububi bumthola;

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

30 njalo ngingavumelanga umlomo wami ukuthi wone, ngokucela umphefumulo wakhe ngesiqalekiso;

(Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life; )

31 uba abantu bethente lami bebengatshongo ukuthi: Hawu, aluba besilokwenyama yakhe, ngabe kasisuthanga.

If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

32 Owemzini kazanga alale esitaladeni; iminyango yami ngayivulela isihambi.

The stranger did not lodge in the street; I opened my doors to the traveller.

33 Uba ngasibekela iziphambeko zami njengoAdamu, ngokufihla isono sami esifubeni sami.

Have I, after the manner of men, hidden my transgression, Concealing my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Ngoba ngethuswa lixuku elikhulu, lokudelelwa ngabensendo kwangesabisa, ngakho ngathula, kangaze ngaphuma emnyango.

Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!

35 Kungathi ngabe ngilongangizwa! Khangelani uphawu lwami. Kungathi uSomandla angangiphendula, lokuthi ophikisana lami ngabe ubhale ugwalo!

O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!

36 Isibili, bengingaluthwala ehlombe lami, ngilubophe lube ngumqhele kimi.

Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder; I would bind it upon me as a crown.

37 Ngimtshele inani lezinyathelo zami, ngisondele kuye njengesiphathamandla.

I would disclose to him all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.

38 Uba umhlaba wami ukhalile ngami, lemifolo yawo ililile ndawonye,

If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail together;

39 uba ngidlile amandla awo kungelamali, kumbe ngenza umphefumulo wabaniniwo uphele,

If I have eaten of its fruits without payment, And wrung out the life of its owners,

40 kakuhlume ukhula oluhlabayo endaweni yengqoloyi, lokhula olunukayo endaweni yebhali. Amazwi kaJobe asephelile.

Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.